Revenge of the Chad

Updated Sept. 16, 2003 12:01 a.m. ET

The same federal court that last year banned the Pledge of Allegiance decided yesterday to postpone California's recall election. The October 7 vote cannot proceed as planned, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, because some voters would be using outdated punch-card ballots.

Isn't there some way to recall punch-happy appeals court justices? The case now heads to the U.S. Supreme Court, which can get a head start on its annual task of overturning the Ninth Circuit by issuing a stay and permitting the election to go...